Liberia receives 56,800 rapid antigenic tests and 4 transport respirators OSIRIS

06.07.2021

 

We are glad to inform that on Friday 3 July, Liberia received 56,800 rapid antigenic tests and 4 transport respirators OSIRIS 3 that will help the country in the fight against COVID-19. These supplies were delivered by France, from the French Government’s available stocks, through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). The UCPM, which funded 75% of the transport costs of the supplies, was activated by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Liberia and by the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO) on 25 June, following the request of support of the Liberian Government.

 

The rapid antigenic tests will allow the Liberian Ministry of Health to reorganize and decentralize the detection tests for COVID-19, to relieve the congestion of the National Reference Laboratory which conducts the PCR tests, to speed up responses to users, and to encourage COVID-positive people to self-isolate more quickly, with the aim to counter the spread of the epidemic. OSIRIS 3 transport respirators, made in France, will equip ambulances and make safer the transport of people developing severe forms of the disease.

 

The EU Delegation wishes to thank the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Embassy in Monrovia, as well as ECHO, for their rapid response in mobilizing and delivering this support. The EU Delegation and French Embassy in Monrovia are closely following the recent evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic in the country, and remain committed to supporting Liberia in this fight. EU support to Liberia since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic has included EU support to the national budget in 2020 totalling 14.95 million € (17.75 million USD); the provision of 96,000 AstraZeneca vaccines through the COVAX Facility co-funded by the EU and EU Member States; as well as training, awareness raising and provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) totalling almost 2 million € (2.3 million USD). In addition, the EU will support with 1 million €  (1.18 million USD) the vaccination campaign in Liberia. The EU and EU Member States are aware of the need to relaunch the vaccination campaign in the country, and are pleading for new deliveries of vaccines to Liberia through COVAX as soon as possible.

 

The EU Delegation would like to commend all Liberian health workers who continue to fight the virus every day, at the risk of their own health. We also offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and express our solidarity with the Liberian people. We call on all Liberians to observe the measures established by the health authorities to curb the spread of the virus. Liberians have often shown their strength and resilience, and we are confident that the current wave will soon be overcome if we all act responsibly and united! Stay safe!